Dental anodyne



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT ISAAC HUNTER, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

DENTAL ANODYN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,693, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed October 22, 1888. Serial No. 288,858. (No specimens.)

To all whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT ISAAC HUNTER, of Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dental Anodynes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in anodynes or obtundents employed for allayin the sensitiveness of decayed teeth, and thereby preventing pain during the operation of excavating the cavities preparatory to filling.

My compound is composed of the following ingredients, in the proportionsstated: chloral hydrate, six grains; cocaine, five grains; arsenic, ten grains; creosote, twenty drops; carbolic acid, five drops. These substances are put together and three drains of water are added to form a complete solution of the solid matters.

In practical use, a small pledget of raw cotton is saturated with the above solution and inserted in the cavity to be excavated. The compound will at once act as an obtundent or anodyne on the sensitive dentine composing the body of the tooth, and in a short timeranging from five to iit'teen minutesit will produce complete insei'lsibility ot' the nerves distributed through the dentine, so that the patient will experience no pain during the subsequent operation of excavating the cavity by means of suitable instruments.

It will be obvious to those acquainted with the nature of the creosote that it is liable to produce an escharotic effect when used alone in the mouth; but in the'proportion in which I 'use it, and in combination with the other ingredients named, I have found it innocuous, yet effective as an obtundent. (ocaine cannot be successfully used alone, for its effect is too brief. (hloral is a necessary adjunct for producing and n'iaintaining tl1e()bti111dii1geffect for the required length of time. In short, by experiment, I have found all the ingredients named are requisite for the desired result or effect.

While I have specified the proportions of the ingredients of my compound which I prefer and have found most advantageous, yet I desire it understood that I do not propose to confine myself strictly to such proportions, since I am aware that a desirable obtundent or anaesthetic effect may be produced by employing somewhat different proportions.

hat I claim is- The improved dental obtundent or anodyne hereinbet'ore described, composed of chloral, six grains; cocaine, five grains; arsenic, ten grains; creosote, twenty drops, and carbolic acid, five drops, substantially as specified.

ROBERT ISAAC HUNTER.

Witnesses:

Amos W. HART, D. L. HAZARD. 

